Jarl

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater, of Whiterun.

Jarl is the official in charge of the local Hold, controlling the local Hold Guard and regulating trade. Each of the nine Holds of Skyrim are governed by a Jarl. The Jarls are largely independent, but they swear fealty to Skyrim's High King.

Ascension

The position of Jarl is hereditary, passing from parent to their first-born child. Daughters are equal in the line of succession, as Idgrod the Younger of Morthal clearly states that she is to inherit the office of Jarl from her mother, Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone. Dowagers may inherit the title from their deceased spouses. 

High King

The High King or High Queen is the leader of Skyrim. The High King or Queen typically inherits the throne by birth and rules for life or until abdication.^{[citation needed]} In the event that no direct heir to the throne exists, a specially convened council of all the Jarls, called the Moot, meet with the express purpose of choosing Skyrim's High King.

Court

Each Jarl elects a cabinet of officials to assist them with governing their Hold:

• Stewards control public relations and are often approached about business, civil disputes, and the purchasing of property, instead of approaching the Jarl directly.
• Court Wizards serve as the Jarl's specialist on arcane knowledge, though it is very rare for Court Wizards to be involved in the court, instead focusing on their experiments. It is also rare for Court Wizards to change with a regime, as demonstrated throughout the Civil War questline.
• Housecarls or personal bodyguards protect the Jarl at all times, although the Hold Guards also possess this responsibility.
• Thanes appointed by the Jarl are also considered members of the Court. They are often nobles who serve the Jarl as advisors and councilors. However, Thanes are only an optional part of a Hold's government.
• Hold Guard Captains are men put in command of the Hold Guard. They, along with the Hold Guards, are charged with upholding the law and defending the Hold from attack.

Granting titles

Since the Jarl is the head of the court, he or she can grant the title of Thane to the Dragonborn, but first they need to prove themselves before being granted the honor and title of Thane. Thanes are also members of the Jarl's Court. The number of Thanes a Hold has varies largely depending on its size.

Residence and apparel

Jarls reside in lavish palaces in the main cities of the holds in which they govern. There, they sit upon the throne, surrounded by their subjects. Jarls also wear specific coronets, similar to circlets, with the exception of Ulfric Stormcloak and Idgrod Ravencrone. Jarls from all holds wear Noble Clothes, a set of which can be found on a shelf in the East Empire Company Warehouse.

Form of address

As a title, Jarls are addressed to as Jarl (Name) i.e. "What do you say on this matter, Jarl Ulfric?" The full name is not required when addressing to a Jarl. The "J" is pronounced as a "Y," as in the word "Yacht."

Jarls

During the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the province is in a civil war so the Jarls may change throughout the game depending on which side the Dragonborn chooses.

Hold	Initial Jarl	Post-Civil War Jarl (depends on side chosen)
Haafingar	Jarl Elisif the Fair – both sides, initially Imperial
Hjaalmarch	Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone – Imperial	Jarl Sorli the Builder – Stormcloak
The Reach	Jarl Igmund – Imperial	Jarl Thongvor Silver-Blood – Stormcloak
Falkreath Hold	Jarl Siddgeir – Imperial	Jarl Dengeir of Stuhn – Stormcloak
Whiterun Hold	Jarl Balgruuf the Greater – Neutral initially, Imperial	Jarl Vignar Gray-Mane – Stormcloak
The Pale	Jarl Skald the Elder – Stormcloak	Jarl Brina Merilis – Imperial
The Rift	Jarl Laila Law-Giver – Stormcloak	Jarl Maven Black-Briar – Imperial
Winterhold	Jarl Korir – Stormcloak	Jarl Kraldar – Imperial
Eastmarch	Ulfric Stormcloak – Stormcloak	Jarl Brunwulf Free-Winter – Imperial

Other Jarls

• Svargrim, Jarl of Solitude and the High King of Western Skyrim during the Alliance War
• Svana, Jarl of Solitude and daughter of High King Svargrim who rose to power after his death.
• Reddharn, Jarl of Morthal during the Alliance War
• Olfwenn, Jarl of Karthwatch during the Alliance War
• Skjoralmor, Jarl of Falkreath during the Alliance War
• Morryn, Jarl of Whiterun during the Alliance War
• Jorunn the Skald-King, Jarl of Windhelm and the High King of Eastern Skyrim
• Hoag Stormcloak, the Great Bear of Eastmarch, Jarl of Windhelm. Ulfric Stormcloak's father.
• Elgryr the Unminded, Jarl of Windhelm sometime during the Second Era.
• Istlod, Jarl of Solitude. Torygg's father.
• Hanse, Jarl of Winterhold.
• Hosgunn Crossed-Daggers, Jarl of Riften.
• Hrolfdir, Jarl of Markarth. Igmund's father.
• Olaf One-Eye, Jarl of Whiterun.
• Torygg, Jarl of Solitude. Elisif's late husband.
• Valdimar, Jarl of Winterhold during the Great Collapse.

Trivia

• Jarl is a historical title from Norse culture and is comparable to the Earls of Anglo-Saxon peerage.
• Alternative names for the Jarl rank in the nobility structure are used in other parts of Tamriel, such as Count in the province of Cyrodiil or Councilor in the province of Morrowind.
• In Norse mythology, Jarl was the name of the third of the first three men created by the god Heimdallr. He represented the noble class, with the other two being Thrall, the slave or serf, and Karl (or "Carl," as in "housecarl"), the free man.

See also

• Emperor
• High King
• Count
• Councilor
• Hold